New land survey exhibit makes its mark in Warner

A new display at the Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur and Heritage Museum in Warner is called “Making their Mark” and features stories of people who created the property boundaries for cities and towns throughout Alberta.Photo by Demi Knight

A new land survey exhibit is making its mark this month in Warner.

The special display sponsored by the Alberta Land Surveys Association will be shown at the Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur and Heritage Museum just in time for Canada’s 150th anniversary. Starting May 19, the new “Making their Mark’ display can be seen by the public. The display showcases the stories of all the men and women who created the property boundaries for cities and towns throughout Alberta. Trish Hill, general manager of the museum, says the display is just another way to celebrate Canada’s big year.“We want to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. It’s a pretty huge deal and what a great way to celebrate to show how land was divided in Alberta and all the stories that go with it.” ‘Making their Mark’ is a display that is travelling throughout Alberta this year showing the prominence of the men and women of history that surveyed and mapped out the land now used every day throughout the province. “It’s one of the biggest wonders in Canada, a part of history that isn’t recognized as significant often enough,” says Vern McNeely, president of the museum about the upcoming display.With a six-week stay at the Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur and Heritage Museum, this travelling display offers members four different features, starting with panels showing the journey of evolution that land surveying has taken throughout the years. It also showcases artifacts that have been collected over time and a nine-minute slide show that documents the changes of land surveying throughout the years. The display also boasts several hands-on educational activities for members of the public, with hopes to help educate Canada on significant historical moments that help shaped our province today.“There are amazing things not talked enough about in Alberta, and this land survey is definitely one of them,” said McNeely. The Making their Mark display opens at the Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur and Heritage Museum for the public’s viewing on May 19.